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E. P. WARNER.

TELEPHONE SWITCH.

No. 425,058. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

I lkz/ezitar:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ERNEST, P. WARNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VESTERNELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEPHONE-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,058, dated April 8,1890.

Application filed February 1, 1888- Serial No. 262,639. (No model.)

T at whom, it may concern: ing the bearing of the spring from a rubberBe it known that I, ERNEST P. WARNER, a or like insulating point to ametallic point citizen of the United States, residing at Chieffects thechange by a rocking movement cago, in the county of Cookand State ofIlliwithout the objectionable sliding movement nois, have invented acertain new and useful heretofore employed.

Improvement in Telephone-Switches, of which My invention is illustratedin the accomthe following is a full, clear, concise, and eX- panyingdrawings, in whichact description, reference being had to the ac- Figure1 is a side elevation of a telephonecompanying drawings, forming a partof this switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a to specification.view thereof as seen from section-line 00 x of My invention relates totelephone-switches, Fig. 1. and is of the class usually spoken of asgrav- The line-wire may be considered as permaity-switches. I nentlyconnected with binding-post a. The

The object of my invention is to dispense ground branch containing thebell and gen- 15 with the spiral spring heretofore usually emerator maybe considered as connected with ployed, the contactsprings being sodisposed contact-spring Z), while the branch containing as to operatethe switch-lever in connection the telephone may be considered asconnected with the telephone. The circuits are thus with spring 0.Spring (1 may be considered. changed as the telephone is taken down andas the local contact.

20 hung up. I have not deemed it necessary to show the I-Ieretofore aspring adjusted to press backcircuits of the telephone-call box, sincethey wardly against a telephone-switch lever to lift form no part of myinvention. the same when the weight of the telephone is The pivotedlever or hook e is provided removed has been employed,acurved surface,with the lug f and the strip of insulation g 23 partly of metal andpartly of insulating maupon its shorter arm. On the'u'nder side ofterial, serving as a bearing for the free end of the said lever, Iprovide insulation h and conthe spring and so arranged that this surfacetact 71. Spring 1) bears against insulation It should slide over thespring when the lever or contact 1' according to the position of the ismoved in either direction. The insulating switch-lever. Springb issecured to the frame 0 portion of the bearing-surface in this priorunder the lever and is-bent backward under device was in such positionthat the spring the lever a sufficient distance to permit the shouldrest thereon when the telephone was bearings h and 2' to alternatelyrest thereon hung up, the removal of the weight of the as the lever isrocked or vibrated without telephone from the switch permitting thelecoming against the same portion of the spring,

3 5 ver to be raised by the action of the spring, and the spring shouldbe of sufiicient strength thereby moving the insulated portion of the toraise the switch-lever to the position shown curved surface from underthe spring and in Fig. 1 when the telephone is removed. sliding themetallic portion thereof under the WVhen the lever is thus raised,springb is sepaspring to form electrical contact .therewith. rated fromits electrical contact with the le- 0 This alternate sliding movement ofan insuver, while the springs c d are closed to the lating surface likerubber or Vulcanite, and lug or electrical contact upon the shorter arma conducting surface like brass, over a conof the lever. On hanging upthe telephone tact-spring is objectionable, since small partithe forceof spring I) is overcome and the lecles from either surface are sure tobe carried ver is brought down, so that its electrical con- 45 upon theother surface, thus tending to form tact i closes upon said spring I),while at the a partial electrical connection at the insulatsame time thesprings 0 (Z are separated from ing surface and a defective or poorconneclug f and held separated therefrom by theintion at the brass ormetal surface. I arrange sulation g. As the switch is moved back and theunderlying spring in the switch, so that forth the contact-points haveasliding motion 50 the motion of the switch-lever while changupon thesurface of the springs. Thus the electrical connections are kept bright,and any particles of dirt that may get between them and their springswill be worked out.

Telephone-switches thus constructed I have found more durable, lessexpensive, and more certain in their action than any automatictelephone-switch heretofore devised.

It is evident that my switch admits of certain modifications which willreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. For example,when required, a greater number of springs, contacts, and insulatingpieces may be provided arranged in the manner which I have described. Ihave shown three contactsprings I) o (I, these being the usual numberrequired in telephone-call boxes. One of the springs-for example, springc1night be dispensed with in case no local circuit were required.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination, with two springs vibrating betweentwo different bearings upon the shorter arm of the pivoted telephonesupport or switch lever, one of said bearings being of insulatingmaterial and the other of metal, of a spring pressing against said leverupon the longer arm thereof and of suilicient force to overcome thepressure of the springs at the shorter arm or heel of the lever, two

bearings being provided upon the longer arm of the lever for saidspring, one of insulating material and the otherot' metal, and thetelephone, whereby on hanging up the telephone the electrical connectionbetween the lever and the springs at the shorter arm or heel is broken,while at the same time electrical connection is formed between the leverand the spring pressing against the longer arm, substantially asdescribed.

The combination, with the pivoted telephone hook or support having twolugs or bearing-pieces provided upon the under side thereof, one of saidbearing-pieces being of insulating material and the other of metal, aspring secured at one end under said lever and having its free endextending baekwardly under said hearings to permit said hearings toalternately rest upon diiferent portions thereof as the lever is rockedor vibrated, whereby the electrical connection between the spring andlever is opened and closed alternatively as thebearings arebroughtagainst different portions of the spring, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of January,A. I). 1888.

ERNEST" l. \VARNER.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. C. WooDWoRTH, CHAS. G. HAWLEY.

